Sias University was founded in 1998 and is the first solely American-owned university in Central China. Affiliated with Fort Hays State University of Kansas, USA, and formerly with Zhengzhou University, it is the first full-time undergraduate university in the province of Henan approved by the Academic Degree Committee of the State Council in China to grant international bachelor’s degrees as cooperative projects. Sias was among the first batches of qualified universities to be accredited by China's Ministry of Education, and in 2018 it was given the approval to function as an independent private undergraduate university.

Combining Chinese and Western educational philosophies, Sias has created a learning environment on the basis of general education, professional education, and practical education. The improvement of the academic system and consolidation of theoretical foundations have been made possible through the integration of the Chinese and Western, ancient and modern, subject integration, production and learning, and science and education. To achieve these goals, Sias broadens its students’ views and encourages creativity and independent thought among both students and faculty through an innovative curriculum and diverse campus activities. The participation of foreign faculty members and the use of English-language teaching materials also enhance bilingual communication skills among the students. All this encourages Sias' students to explore global strategies to develop and evolve their problem-solving abilities. Sias aims to nurture talent and develop sophisticated and specialized individuals that can contribute to the modernization and economic development of China.

At present, Sias has 17 academic schools with both undergraduate majors and junior college programs (Associate Degree, and Bridge Programs), including 1 Sino-foreign cooperative institution (Kansas International School). There are 3 degree programs with Fort Hays State University (FHSU) in Kansas, U.S.A. - a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), and Bachelor of Arts (BA). In cooperation with the University of Arizona, Sias has an undergraduate program in Music Performance. There are 9 major disciplines which mainly include management, the humanities, and the social sciences.

Founded in 1998 with an enrollment of fewer than 300 students, today Sias has an enrollment of over 36,000 students and employs over 2,200 staff with 1,626 full-time faculty members, including 110 full-time foreign teachers. Sias' ratio of foreign faculty to students ranks first in China.

It offers 43 undergraduate degree programs, 28 associate degree programs, 22 bridge programs, and 6 dual degree programs with Fort Hays State University from Kansas, USA. The 9 fields of study offering degrees include liberal arts, science, engineering, economics, management, medicine, law, education, and the performing arts.

As an international university, Sias enjoys partnerships with 184 international partner schools in 50 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, India, Thailand, and Indonesia. It has a large number of international students from over 25 countries, as well as faculty members whose expertise and training embrace both Chinese and Western educational philosophies.

The organizational structure of Sias' administration strengthens the foundation and functioning of the university. The curriculum is student-oriented, and by using a combination of theoretical and practical teaching methods, Sias ensures that the quality of teaching is continuously improving and that the employment rate for Sias graduates consistently ranks in the top three schools among all universities in Henan every year. Graduates of Sias have received high praise from employers for their excellent oral English, all-around abilities, creative thinking, and strong work ethic.

The university is located in Xinzheng, a county-level city in the Zhengzhou metropolitan area, and the hometown of the legendary Yellow Emperor (Huang Di), progenitor of Chinese culture. The sprawling campus covers an area of almost 400 acres and exhibits a combination of Chinese and European architectural styles to make it distinctly international. The campus combines elements of modern European gardens and classical Chinese gardens; the teaching buildings combine European styles with Chinese styles; and the facilities for sports, music and art not only reflect Sias' unique concept of combining Chinese and Western styles, but also highlights the international environment and educational philosophy that pursues a holistic development of morality, intelligence, physical education, charm, and culture.